Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : Proof that John Kerry is Unfit for Command -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Peter Dierks who wrote (18971)	10/15/2004 3:18:40 AM
From: SiouxPal	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 27181

Do you live your life from its words? Please beware this is a bear trap of a question. Sioux

To: Peter Dierks who wrote (18971)	10/15/2004 5:32:12 AM
From: Richnorth	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 27181

The Founding Fathers of America were Deists, very unlike the so-called Christians of today whose Christ seems so "alien" to other Christians. TOM PAINE AND THE FOUNDING OF AMERICA Today there is much debate over the religious beliefs of our nation's founding fathers. Debate also rages over meaning of the religion clauses of the United States Constitution and the interpretation of Thomas Jefferson's phrase "a wall of separation between church and state" in his letter to the Danbury Baptists. What is not up for debate, however. is the profound influence Thomas Paine had on the founding fathers and founding doctrines of the United States. A simple search at the Library of Congress brings up a wealth of personal correspondence between Paine and Jefferson, Washington and others. In his immensely successful pamphlet "Common Sense," published in 1776, Paine argued in print that colonies had outgrown any need for English domination and should be given independence. This and Paine's subsequent essays called "The Crisis" are seminal documents of the American Revolution. Raised a Quaker in England, Paine was well used to conflicts with the religions and political powers of the day. His thinking on the matter of religion and politics evolved further during a return to England when he wrote THE RIGHTS OF MAN, defending the French Revolution, and later THE AGE OF REASON, both of which earned him the enmity of the British government. His notion that there are certain "natural rights" common to all men was greatly influenced by and in turn influenced the Enlightenment philosophy known as "deism." Deists held that nature itself sufficiently demonstrated the existence of God, making formal, established religion unnecessary. Deists also scorned claims of supernatural revelation. Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and George Washington were all greatly influenced by deism. I believe in one God, and no more; and I hope for happiness beyond this life. I believe the equality of man, and I believe that religious duties consist in doing justice, loving mercy, and endeavoring to make our fellow-creatures happy. But, lest it should be supposed that I believe many other things in addition to these, I shall, in the progress of this work, declare the things I do not believe, and my reasons for not believing them. — Thomas Paine, THE AGE OF REASON The Writings of Tom Paine Thomas Paine National Historical Association A HISTORY OF US: "To Begin Again" NOW: History of the Separation of Church and State http://www.pbs.org/now/society/freethinkers.html

To: Peter Dierks who wrote (18971)	10/15/2004 5:41:09 AM
From: Richnorth	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 27181

geocities.com

To: Peter Dierks who wrote (18971)	10/17/2004 2:57:15 PM
From: Ann Corrigan	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 27181

Pres Bush wins: Iraq, Terror Top Voters' Concerns Sunday, October 17, 2004 WASHINGTON(AP) — National security issues such as the war in Iraq and terrorism are dominating voters' attention in the final weeks before Election Day, Associated Press polling found. National security issues were picked by 55 percent of Americans as the most important problems facing the nation, according to the poll taken in October — up from 43 percent who named national security issues in an April poll. Economic problems — including the overall economy and unemployment — were named by four in 10, far behind national security issues. Two in 10 specifically mentioned the economy, and 13 percent said unemployment.